News for all of Southwest Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Charlotte County sets up temporary 911 lines

Following the destruction of Hurricane Ian, many telephone lines are down throughout Charlotte County.

In order to meet the needs of our residents, the Communications Center has begun utilizing cell phones to take emergency calls.

County officials said that the new lines are a temporary solution, and it does limit the capabilities of the operator. The officials also said they are still being inundated with calls so an immediate response is not guaranteed.

These numbers should be used for emergency situations only – meaning that it is a matter of life and death. Please continue to use the non-emergency line (941) 639-2101 for other matters.

The four temporary numbers are:

239-478-0810

239-478-4153

239-478-3922

239-478-4262

“I want to emphasize that these numbers are only for emergency situations. As you might expect, we are being inundated with calls for service right now – but these lines are to be used only in matters where someone’s life is in imminent danger," Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said. "I also want to commend my Communications team for their quick-thinking and adaptability to serve the people of Charlotte County.”

The county will update residents once 911 lines are fully operational again.

WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and donate now. Thank you.

Trusted by over 30,000 local subscribers

Local News, Right Sized for Your Morning

Quick briefs when you are busy, deeper explainers when it matters, delivered early morning and curated by WGCU editors.

  • Environment
  • Local politics
  • Health
  • And more

Free and local. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

More from WGCU
  • The Diocese of Venice in Florida and National Development of America have broken ground on Casa San Juan Diego, marking the first step in an effort to expand affordable housing opportunities in Immokalee. Casa San Juan Diego will add 80 brand-new rental units to the community, providing housing for qualified residents who earn up to 60% of the average median income and work in Immokalee.
  • A joint venture by the owners of Captiva's South Seas resort has purchased the 22-acre Rauschenberg property that spans from beach to bay on Captiva Island. South Seas purchased the property from the artist's foundation, which served as its owner following the 2008 death of Robert Rauschenberg, the 20th-century American artist.
  • Trump administration officials are exempting oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from the Endangered Species Act. The exemption was requested by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who cited lawsuits from environmental groups as a threat to the nation's energy production. Critics say Tuesday's move could doom Gulf populations of endangered Rice's whales. It comes amid global oil shocks and soaring energy prices brought on by the U.S.-Iran war. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the top oil-producing regions in the U.S. Republican President Donald Trump has made increased fossil fuel production a central focus of his second term.